The Wren Library Project

Progress Report January 2021

With the assistance of generous supporters, St Paul’s is undertaking the conservation of its peerless 17th century Wren Library. The completion of the project will restore the Library’s historic fabric and create an environmentally stable space for the thousands of culturally significant books and manuscripts contained therein. The project will also open up access to this unique resource for visitors and researchers from across the world.

Project Progress 

St Paul’s Library, completed in 1709 by Christopher Wren, is designated as being of outstanding historical significance. This singular edifice documents not only the architectural heritage of St Paul’s, but also the cultural development of London and the nation. The Library’s s c.13,500 volumes (including printed books, tracts and manuscripts) offer an important collection for academic researchers, while also drawing large numbers of tourists. After 300 years, the integrity of the Library had become threatened by leaks from the chamber roof and the wet heating system. Accordingly, the books and manuscripts were in a poor state, and there was a real risk that the Library would be forced to close to visitors.

Following successful fundraising from 2015 onwards, a Library Project Board was established in 2018 to steer the conservation work. In autumn 2018 the Library’s books and manuscripts were removed, packed and decanted off-site. This allowed for the restoration works in the chamber to take place and enabled the conservation of the Collection. In 2019, after six months of environmental monitoring, site prepartion began with the removal of electrical components and the heating system . Subsequently, trials were undertaken for new lighting and humidistat-controlled heating systems.

In February 2020, the conservation phase began in earnest with the erection of a high-level scaffolding, creating a temporary level above the top of the Library book presses (sheves). This work provided unprecedented access to the chamber’s upper levels for stonework repairs and conservation cleaning by specialist contractors This scaffolding also enabled the cleaning and painting of the chamber roof.

Conservation of the book presses and gallery joinery is now underway, and underfloor electrical cabling has been installed  by the Cathedral’s in-house electricians. Following conservation of the chamber’s tongue and groove floor (a masterwork in itself), this cabling will supply power to the new heating system and to the new readers’ desks and display case, which is currently being built offsite. This phase of the project will conclude with the installation of a new lighting scheme.  Thereafter, the heating system will be subject to a three month period of environmental monitoring before the books are returned.

Book & Manuscript Conservation

A central aim of the project was to clean and survey, for the first time, the Library’s collection of books and manuscripts. Important items requiring further care were retained for treatment. This included an illuminated Book of Psalms, dating from 1200. This text is one of the oldest books in the Library and will occupy a central position in our forthcoming ‘Treasures of the Library’ display. In autumn of 2021, the books will be returned to the newly restored Library, which will provide a stable environment for their safekeeping. We are committed to their long-term conservation, and accordingly we will be recruiting and training specialist Conservation Cleaning Volunteers, as well as developing our Conservation Cleaning training partnerships with several London Colleges and Universities. 

Collections Unlocked Public Engagement Programme

The Library restoration presents St Paul’s with a unique opportunity to transform our visitors’ ability to engage with the Library’s books and manuscripts, as well as our wider Collections and Archives. From autumn 2021, the programme will open up access to St Paul’s treasures for a diverse range of visitors onsite, and to international audiences online – including tours, films, specialist talks and school learning resources.

Timeline

The Covid-19 lockdown halted work in March, with activity resuming in July when government guidelines enabled a safe return to the workspace. This inevitably caused delays to the programe, and we now plan to reopen the Library in October 2021.